UBER Act

Summary of HR 7169 (119th Congress) – UBER Act

Purpose and intent

HR 7169, titled the Understanding Basic English Requirements Act of 2026 (the “UBER Act”), would establish English proficiency and related qualifications as prerequisites for eligibility of ride share and shared-use mobility contracts with federal executive agencies. The bill aims to ensure that drivers working under such government contracts can communicate effectively with the public and authorities, and can operate vehicles safely and lawfully.

Key provisions and changes

• Eligibility prerequisites for drivers (Section 2(a))

  • For any transportation network company (TNC) or shared-use mobility company seeking a federal contract for services in the continental United States, Alaska, or Hawaii, every driver performing work under the contract must:
  • (A) Be at least 21 years old.
  • (B) Be able to read and speak English sufficiently to engage with the public, law enforcement, and officials; understand highway traffic signs; respond to official inquiries; and make entries on reports and records.
  • (C) Demonstrate, by experience, training, or both, the ability to safely operate the type of vehicle driven.
  • (D) Hold a currently valid driver’s license issued by a single state or jurisdiction.
  • (E) Have successfully completed a driver’s road test.
  • An explicit exception: the English-language requirement in (B) does not apply to drivers who are deaf or hearing impaired and use American Sign Language.

• Compliance certification and debarment (Section 2(b))

  • TNCs and shared-use mobility companies must certify to the head of the relevant executive agency that all drivers who will perform work under the contract meet the stated requirements.
  • If a company is found not to be compliant with this certification, it would be debarred from receiving federal contracts for a period of 5 years.

• Definitions (Section 2(c))

  • Clarifies terms:
  • “Executive agency” follows the definition in 41 U.S.C. § 133.
  • “Shared-use mobility company” covers entities offering shared transportation services (taxis, limos, bikesharing, ridesharing, ridesourcing, scooter sharing, shuttle services, etc.).
  • “Transportation network company” refers to entities that use a digital network to connect riders and drivers for prearranged rides; it clarifies that a TNC does not control the driver’s personal vehicle or operations except as contractually agreed.

Who/what is affected

• Federal executive agencies that award contracts for transportation services with TNCs and shared-use mobility companies.
• Transportation network companies and any entity providing ride share or shared-use mobility services that seek federal contracts.
• Drivers employed under those contracts, who would be subject to the English proficiency, age, licensing, and testing requirements (with an exception for ASL users who are deaf or hard of hearing).

Procedural and timeline aspects

• The bill establishes standards that apply to eligibility for federal contracts and creates a certification-and-debarment mechanism if noncompliance is found.
• It establishes debarment for 5 years as a penalty for failure to certify driver compliance.
• The act is introduced January 21, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform; no further legislative actions are indicated in the provided text.

Overall impact

• Introduces uniform English-language and licensing standards for drivers associated with federally contracted ride share services.
• Could reduce communication barriers with the public and authorities, potentially affecting safety and regulatory compliance.
• May limit eligibility for some providers if they cannot meet the English proficiency and testing requirements or provide alternatives for deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers under the ASL exception.